The Local France https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Paris bounces back as visitor numbers hit record high "Tourism in Paris has rebounded with spectacular fashion," say the French capital's tourism chiefs who were celebrating a record number of visitors to the City of Light after a steep drop caused by the spate of terror attacks. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180222/paris-bounces-back-as-visitor-numbers-hit-record-high Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:15:04 +0100 paris-bounces-back-as-visitor-numbers-hit-record-high Paris open-top tourist bus crashes into iconic bridge leaving four injured An open-top tourist bus crashed into a bridge in the centre of Paris on Friday afternoon leaving four injured. https://www.thelocal.fr/20170623/paris-tourist-bus-crashes-into-bridge-leaving-four-injured Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:54:04 +0200 paris-tourist-bus-crashes-into-bridge-leaving-four-injured Paris region loses 1.5 million tourists over terror fears Tourism in the greater Paris region Île-de-France has been hit hard by terror fears, the latest figures show. But it's turning around. https://www.thelocal.fr/20170221/ile-de-france-paris-region-loses-1-5-million-tourists-to-terror-fears Tue, 21 Feb 2017 13:00:58 +0100 ile-de-france-paris-region-loses-1-5-million-tourists-to-terror-fears Could the heart of Paris be set for a glassy makeover? Architects have put forward impressive plans to transform the very centre of Paris into a modern hub. https://www.thelocal.fr/20161221/could-heart-of-paris-get-glassy-makeover Wed, 21 Dec 2016 09:25:19 +0100 could-heart-of-paris-get-glassy-makeover Terrorism, strikes, now floods: Paris takes yet another hit After terror attacks, violent street protests and strikes, now the floods are impacting Paris's normally booming tourist industry. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160603/terror-strikes-now-floods-paris-tourism-takes-another-hit Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:53:36 +0200 terror-strikes-now-floods-paris-tourism-takes-another-hit Allure of Paris still draws in tourists despite their fears Some visitors may be steering clear of the world's top tourist destination after terror attacks in the French capital, but for lovers, shoppers and gourmands who dare to go, Paris will always be Paris. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160210/allure-of-paris-pulls-in-tourists-despite-their-fears Wed, 10 Feb 2016 08:18:42 +0100 allure-of-paris-pulls-in-tourists-despite-their-fears Airbnb bookings show tourists not put off Paris Despite the recent terror attacks more people have booked up with Airbnb to spend New Year in Paris than any other European city. https://www.thelocal.fr/20151223/airbnb-reveals-tourists-not-put-off-paris Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:39:25 +0100 airbnb-reveals-tourists-not-put-off-paris Tourists urged 'don't stay away from Paris' Paris is safe and life will return to normal. That's the message from the head of the Paris Tourism board who told The Local on Tuesday that tourists should not turn their backs on the City of Light, despite understandable fears. https://www.thelocal.fr/20151117/dont-stay-away-paris-tourism-chiefs-urge-visitors Tue, 17 Nov 2015 16:44:57 +0100 dont-stay-away-paris-tourism-chiefs-urge-visitors Paris to get first floating hotel on the River Seine The French capital might be full of all kinds of hotels, but there will soon be a new kind to add to the mix – one that floats on the River Seine. https://www.thelocal.fr/20151105/paris-to-get-its-first-floating-hotel-on-the-seine Thu, 05 Nov 2015 18:34:03 +0100 paris-to-get-its-first-floating-hotel-on-the-seine Airbnb starts charging users tourist tax in Paris Holiday rental site Airbnb will from Thursday start charging users in Paris a tourist tax as it bids to keep the French government off its back. The levy could raise millions of euros for Paris. https://www.thelocal.fr/20151001/airbnb-starts-charging-tourist-tax-in-paris Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:30:21 +0200 airbnb-starts-charging-tourist-tax-in-paris Louvre and Versailles to open seven days a week Three of France's most famous museums and art galleries - the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles and the Musee d'Orsay - will soon be open seven days a week, the government revealed on Wednesday. Many visitors may be surprised they aren't already open all week-round. https://www.thelocal.fr/20141001/louvre-and-versailles-to-open-seven-days-a-week Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:07:00 +0200 louvre-and-versailles-to-open-seven-days-a-week Paris still world's number one tourist destination Millions of foreign visitors flocked to Paris last year helping the French capital to maintain its title as the world's most popular tourist destination. However the French themselves seem to have fallen out of love with the City of Light. https://www.thelocal.fr/20140311/paris-still-worlds-top-tourist-destination Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:51:00 +0100 paris-still-worlds-top-tourist-destination Paris disputes London is 'world's most visited city' UPDATED: Tourism chiefs in Paris hit back on Thursday at reports that London had claimed its mantle as the most visited city in the world, insisting the real figures showed the French capital was still top dog. https://www.thelocal.fr/20140116/paris-loses-title-as-most-visited-city-in-the-world Thu, 16 Jan 2014 22:00:00 +0100 paris-loses-title-as-most-visited-city-in-the-world Femen due in court over topless Notre Dame stunt Nine members of the radical feminist group Femen are due to appear in court in Paris on Friday, charged with desecrating Notre Dame cathedral with a topless celebration of the resignation of Pope Benedict.(SEE VIDEO) https://www.thelocal.fr/20130913/femen-head-to-court-over-notre-dame-demo Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:59:00 +0200 femen-head-to-court-over-notre-dame-demo Rail chiefs launch €350m Paris Metro clean-up The time has come to tackle Paris's grimey Metro, once and for all, according to transport chiefs, who announced this week a multi-million euro plan to rid the network and its stations of their infamous filth. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130903/operator-launches-plan-to-clean-up-paris-metro Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:17:00 +0200 operator-launches-plan-to-clean-up-paris-metro Parisians poke fun at themselves in exhibition Who says Parisians have no sense of humour? The city of Paris this week launched a public exhibition of cartoons, intended to poke fun at the foibles and follies of life in the capital city, mocking natives, tourists and expats alike. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130808/parisians-mock-themselves-with-new-exhibit Thu, 08 Aug 2013 14:00:00 +0200 parisians-mock-themselves-with-new-exhibit Historic Paris tower opens after 500 years Visitors have only had to wait around 500 years but finally one of Paris’s most famous landmarks is open to the public for the first time. But you'll need to get to the top while you can, because unfortunately it will soon close again. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130806/historic-paris-bell-tower-reopens-after-500-years Tue, 06 Aug 2013 13:45:00 +0200 historic-paris-bell-tower-reopens-after-500-years 'Paris can be a hard city - remember why you came' In this week's edition of The Local's My France series we’ve asked Brian Scott Bagley – an American burlesque dancer and choreographer who moved to Paris in 2006 – to tell us about life in the City of Light and some of his favourite haunts. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130206/when-it-gets-tough-in-paris-remember-why-you-came Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:54:00 +0100 when-it-gets-tough-in-paris-remember-why-you-came